Solomon Islands first Consulate General’s Office in Brisbane an important link for Solomon Islanders wanting work.

It has been reported today, Tuesday, that the opening of the country’s first Consulate General Office in Brisbane on Friday 5th October - signalled a new era in trade and economic cooperation between Solomon Islands and Australia.

“Solomon Islands has made the decision to invest in expanding its presence in Australia to tap into the seasonal labour market as a short term solution to address its more than 18,000 youth job seekers.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs & External Trade Jeremiah Manele cut the ribbon to officially open the office, said a statement from the Government Communications Unit (GCU) yesterday.

Present at the occasion was Governor General Sir David Vunagi, Dr Anthony Lynham, and Australia’s Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and members of the Solomon Islands community in Brisbane.

The establishment of the Solomon Islands Consulate General in the Queensland city of Brisbane represents the growing trade and economic cooperation between Solomon Islands and Australia.

Brisbane is Solomon Islands largest gateway into Australia and Asia where every week hundreds of nationals pass in and out either transiting through to third countries or returning home and at the same time many Solomon Islanders consider Brisbane city, a “home away from home”.

The opening of the Brisbane office is important to facilitate trade and socio-economic activities between the two countries especially in providing consular services that will be required by potential investors as a well as potential seasonal workers, students and the wider Solomon Islands community in Australia.

Minister Manele highlighted that the opening of the office is timely to prepare Solomon Islands for participating in Australia’s growing seasonal labour market, tourism and other small business enterprises that Solomon Islanders are keen to venture into.